New Arrivals and Back in Stock at K&L California – Scotch Whisky News
Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA
2006 Bunnahabhain 15 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Bourbon Barrel Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $109.99 View
2005 Glengoyne 16 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Hogshead Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $79.99 View
The Glengoyne distillery straddles the official dividing line between the lowlands and the highlands, but the famous distillery’s credentials have never been questioned. Founded in 1833 and not ceasing operation during the several industry crises and closures, the Glengoyne Distillery has long been associated with sherry matured single malt production. The distillery name, an anglicization of the term Glen Guin, means to the valley of the wild geese. The distillery received the Royal Warrant to supply the household of the Queen Mother in 1984 and the distillery’s current bottlings still feature the warrant prominently. The distillery boasts long fermentation and a very slow distillation intended to enhance the sweet fruity character of the spirit. While the distillery is typically filling European and American Oak seasoned with sherry, this unusual expression exemplifies the true nature of the spirit perfectly. At a lovely point in its maturation with a nice somewhat active hogshead not completely masking the character of the spirit, few single casks will offer as much inviting fruity character and approachable flavors. A particular strong value considering the current prices of the core range and while some Glengoyne lovers might prefer this whisky matured in Sherry, few would plausibly deny the inherent quality of this exceptional spirit in this rarely seen style.
2009 Talisker 11 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Hogshead Cask Strength Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $119.99 View
What can we say about these exceptional Talisker stocks except that we simply wish we could get more. The special distillery on Skye was once completely off limits for independent bottlers. We bottled the first IB Talisker we’d seen in decades back in 2014, a young 5 year old that was unbelievable good. Now more than a half decade later, those same stocks are incredibly still available and significantly more mature. This gorgeous Talisker exemplifies everything we love about the magical distillery. Truly born of the sea, the character of Talisker is distinct from all other peated malts. Wild and complex, it’s very difficult to get a similar experience from even the finest Islay distillery. This one does love water so don’t avoid a few drops or you’ll be leaving at intermission.
1991 North British 30 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Bourbon Barrel Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (750ml) $149.99 View
Once a bastion of ridiculous value, the single grain market has seemingly jumped the shark over the past couple of vintages. Supplies are tight and prices are high, but occasionally we come across casks that still far outpace their price point in terms of quality. This 30 year old North British is exactly that. One of the more complex grains we’ve had in some time, it was aged for three decades in a fresh bourbon barrel, which likely accounts for the exceptional quality. The North British distillery was established in 1885 not far from Edinburgh Castle. Now controlled as a joint venture between Diageo and Edrington, it can produce upwards of 65 million liters of pure alcohol per year from mostly corn. The exceptional size of this distillery does not proclude it from making high quality grain and while most of the production is used in Famous Grouse and Johnnie Walker, we occasionally get access to product of high quality at reasonable prices. The key, it would seem, to producing high quality grain seems to be using high quality wood and allowing long maturation. This is exactly what we’ve got here. A gorgeous creamy and very approachable old grain for a very solid price.
1990 Isle Islay Malt 30 Year Old “Redacted Bros.” (Thompson/Dornoch) K&L Exclusive Single Refill Hogshead Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $299.99 View
The hits never end from the excellent team in Dornoch. This treble of casks from a famous, undiclosed distillery on the southern coast of Islay represents some of the finest values we’ve ever come across. Even considering the extreme inflation in prices on old Islay malts, we would have never previously been able to offer casks of this quality from this exceptional traditional distillery at this price. But thanks to the incredible network that the Thompson Brothers have developed we’ve been able to garner unprecedented access. An exceptional example of the heavily peated style after 3 decades in barrel, unsullied by wine barrels or finishes of any type. Few whiskies offer more distinctly charming examples of this sought-after style. This exceptional cask was distilled in November of 1990 and bottled just before it’s 31st birthday in 2021. It was bottled at cask strength without chillfiltration at 100.4 proof. Sold exclusively at K&L Wine Merchants, the old hogsheads turned out just 252 bottles.
Glenfarclas has a proven track record for aging very well. I’ve enjoyed some amazing 25 and 30 year old expressions, in addition to some older vintage offerings. Does this new 40 year old follow suit? Absolutely! It’s complex and well-rounded, with great depth and no excessive oak. Lush, candied citrus (especially orange), old pot still rum, maple syrup, fig, roasted nuts, and polished leather, with hints of mocha, candied ginger, and tobacco. A bit oily in texture (which I find soothing) with good tannic grip on the finish. A classic, well-matured Glenfarclas — and a very good value for its age. *Editor’s Choice* (JH, Fall 2010) 
